From David Bowie's swan song to Beyonce's call to arms, Anohni's war lament to Frank Ocean's return, 2016 was a year of big artists making big statements. These are our picks for the best songs of the year.

Featuring David Bowie’s haunting last rites, a Parisian revolution, an all-powerful Beyoncé, a dancing robot, a weeping Naomi Campbell, a kid from “Stranger Things,” a bunch of sheep in a gym, and more

From poking fun at Kanye West, to curating playlists, to singing with Willie Nelson, to hosting the recent South by South Lawn festival at the White House, President Obama has taken advantage of his musical know-how in unprecedented ways.